Article holder for slicing machines



Jan. 8 1924.

E. A. HAND ET AL ARTICLE HOLDER FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Feb. 8, 19192 Sheets-Sheet 1 k w 6 u 3 p 5 a M Z 3 o m 3 z W Va, W 7 2 I m 1 5 H/\ T3 l||h a m a MY 5 E. A. HAND ET AL ARTICLE HOLDER FOR SLICING MACHINESJan. 8

Filed Feb. 8, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill/IIIIIIIII/(I)! ill,

Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

ERNEST A. HAND AND FREDERICK A. WYGANT, 0F HORNELL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORSTO THE A. J. DEER COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 013 HORNE'LL, NEW YORK, A COR-PORATION OF NEW YORK.

ARTICLE HOLDER FOR SLICING MACHINES.

Application filed February 8, 1919.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, ERNEST A. HAND and FREDERICK A. WYGANT, a subjectof the King of England and a citizen of the United States, respectively,residing in Hornell, in the county of Steuben and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Article Holders for SlicingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for holding in a slicing machine thearticle which is being operated upon and more particularly to a holder.in which the article is gripped at its rear end'soas to permit ofcutting this article into slicesto the extreme rear end of the same.

This invention has for its objects to provide a holder of this characterwhich is so constructed that a firm and reliable grip may be obtained onthe rear end of the article; to so construct the holding device that thelast particle Will be retained in shape of a salable slice instead ofbecoming broken and unsalable; to so organize the holding means thatinterference with the cutter is positively prevented; to so constructthe holding device that the same can be readily removed from the slicingmachine while the article is attached to the holder so as to permit theslicing machine to be used for cutting other articles anolthenpermitting of again replacing the holder with the article attachedthereto without liability of changing the thickness in the slices whichare cut from the article; and to'provide simple and efiicient meanswhereby this holder may be readily attached to the upright pillars ofthe different types of slicing machines.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is .a-sectional elevation of the article holder or gripembodyingour improvements. Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation ofthe same. Figure 3 is a horizontal section, taken on line 33, Fig. 1.Figure 4 .is a vertical section taken on line 4c4, Fig. 2, showing thegripping or engaging devices in theiroperative or extended position.Figure 5 is a similar view showing the gripping or engaging devices intheir inoperative or retracted position. Figure 6 is a vertical sectiontaken on line 6-6, Fig.

Serial No. 275,745.

2, showing the gripping or engaging devices in their projected oroperative position. Figure 7 is a similar view showing the gripping orengaging devices in their retracted or inoperative position. Figure 8 isa fragmentary perspective view of one set of gripping hooks and the headcarrying the same.

Similar characters of reference refer to like parts throughout theseveral views.

1 represents the table upon which the article to be sliced is supportedon its underside, and 2 the cutter arranged adjacent to the front end ofthis table and adapted to cut off slices successively from the front endof this article. The article to be sliced is represented by dotted linesin Fig, 3 and may consist of any material which is usually served inslices, such for instance as ham sausage, dried beef, venison, etc. Thecutter may be of any suitable construction although the same preferablyhas the form of a disk like those now in common use which are rotatedwhile engaging the material to be cut. Means are also provided formoving the supporting table 1 and the cutter 2 one relatively to theother in a direction parallel with the plane of the cutter, but as thisforms no part of the present' invention no specific reference to thesame is deemed necessary.

Our improvements relate more particu larly to the means whereby thearticle to be sliced is gripped or held at its rear end while in theslicing machine and when removed therefrom, and intheir preferredembodiment as shown in the drawings, the same are constructed asfollows:

5 represents a feed plate or gripper carriage which is mounted on thesupporting table 1 so as to move with the same in the direction parallelwiththe cutter but capable of sliding on this table in a directionperpendicular of the plane of the cutter for the purpose of advancingthe article holding devices thereon together with the article heldthereby toward the cutting line. Adjacent to its opposite longitudinaledges this gripper carriage is provided with two posts or pillars 3, 3which are secured at their lower ends by screw fastenings 4:, 4 to thefeed plate and are preferably of rectangular form in cross section.Between these two posts and above the adjacent part of the feed plate isarranged asupporting frame which .is of substantially rectangular formand provided with upper and lower horizontal bars 9, l0, and two uprightbars 11, 11 connecting 0pposite ends of the horizontal "bars. On itsouter side one of the upright bars of the supporting frame is providedwith looking lugs 12, 12 arranged adjacent to the upper and lower edgesof this frame, each of these lugs being provided on its outer .side witha notch or groove 13 which is adapted to engagewith theinner side of theadjacent post 3, for clamping the holder frame on this post. On itsopposite vertical bar this frame isprovided about midway between itsupper and, lower edges with a laterally projecting locking lug 1-4:which has its outer edge provided with a rabbet 15 engaging with theinner and rear sides of the opposite post 3 of the feed plate. 18represents a rock shaft 'journaled lengthwise -of the feed plate in abearing on the locking lug 14 and provided at its front end with aneccentricor cam 16 engaging with the inner sideof'the adjacent post 3and also provided at its front end with a retaining flange 17 whichengages with the frontside of this last mentioned post. The turning ofthis rock jsha ft together withthe cam and retain iii-g flange thereonis efi'ectedby means of a handle '19 applied to the rear end of the rockshaft andengaging with the rear side offthe adjacentlockinglug, as bestshown in F'igs. 2 a'nd 8.. By means of these clamping dei icesthesupporting frame and the means whereby the article t'o'be sliced isdetachably connected therewith may be quickly and easily attached to theposts of the feed plate as well as removed therefrom. By thismeanstheholde'r may be detachably mounted in different types ofslicingmachines.

7 represents a breast plate which is arranged in front "of thesupporting frame in a vertical position and against the front side ofwhich thearticle to be sliced is held for presentin the same to thecutter.

Formed in said breast plate are a plurality of vertical slots 22, 23which are preferably arranged in horizontal rows one above the other.The number of these rows may vary but as shown in the drawings three ofsuch rows are employed.

Throughthese slots gripping hooks 20, 21 are adapted to extend for thepurpose of engaging with the rear end of the article to be sliced andclamping the same against the breast plate or releasing said article,each of these gripping hooks being preferably inclined or curvedvertically from its rear end or base to itsfront end or beak. The meanswhereby the hooks are actuated are preferably so constructed that thesame have a movement parallel with the front face of the breast plate.In order to increase the gripping effect of these hooks on the articlewhich is to be sliced some of the hooks are pointed upwardlyfandothersdownwardly so that when a plurality of such oppositely pointedhooks engage the rear end of the article to be mounted the latter willbe held reliably against upward and "downward movement relatively to thebreast plate and thereby insure accurate and uniform operation of themachine. In the preferred organizationof this device the hooks whichpass through each horizontal row of slots 22, 23 are arranged in twosets the members 21 of one set projecting downwardly and alternatingwith the members 20 ofthe other set which project upwardly. The membersof each set of hooks are preferably connected at their rearends with ahead or bar 28 which for convenience is 'made integral with these teeth,as shown in Fig. 8,, although the same may be otherwise constructed ifdesired. The gripping hooks have their heads connected in any suitablemanner withhorizontal shifting bars 241, 25 which are"arrangedbetweenthe rear side of the breast plate and a plurality ofupright intermediate frame bars 29 connecting the rear edges of theupper and lower bars 9, .10, of the supporting frame. The several hooksupporting bars 24:, 25 alternate with each other in a verticaldirectioninjrear of the breast plate and thosebars 25 which carry the upwardlypointing gripping hooks 20 are connected with each other by means ofupright connecting bars 27, 27, whilethose bars '24 which carry thedownwardly pointinghooks 21 are connected with each other by upright'bars26, 26. These upright bars 26, 27 and horizontal bars 24, 25carrying the hooks 21, 20, form two carriers. The upright bars of each.hook carrierengage with the rear sides of the horizontal bars of theother hook carrier so that these two hook carriers are capable ofsliding vertically one relatively to the other. ,VVhen the hooks of bothsets are in their 'fullyret'racted position relatively to the breastplate the vertical'movement' of the two carriers may be limitedrelatively to each other in one direction by some of the horizontalbars24E of one set engaging with. one side of some of the horizontal bars25of' the other set, as shown in Fig. 7, and when the hooks are in theirfully projected positionthe vertical movement of the hook carriers inthe opposite direction maybe limited by the opposite sides of some ofthe horizontal bars of one carrier engaging with the opposing sides ofthe horizontal bars of the other hook carrier, as shown in Fig. 6.

j The vertical reciprocating movement of the carriers which support theoppositely .pointing'groups of hooks may be effected in various .ways,for 11181321106, as shown in the drawings, by means of a rock lever 30pivoted on the central rear bar 29 of the supporting frame, so as to becapable of swinging in a vertical plane parallel with the breast plateand provided on opposite sides of its axes with radial slots 33 whichreceive coupling pins or screws 31, 32 one of which is connected withone of the hook carriers while the other is connected with the otherhook carrier. Upon rocking this lever in one direction, the carrier ofthe downwardly pointing hooks 21 will be moved downwardly and the othercarrier which sup ports the upwardly-pointing hooks 20 will be movedupwardly, and vice versa.

Means are provided for imparting a horizontal backward and forwardmovement of the breast plate so as to cause the impaling or grippinghooks or pins to be either projected relative to the face of this platefor 'ripping the article to be sliced or retracted or releasing saidarticle. The preferred means for accomplishing this purpose comprise twoupright cam plates or bars 42 secured to the rear side of the breastplate adjacent to the inner side of the vertical bars 11, 11, of thesupporting frame, each cam bar being provided at its upper and lowerends with cam-shaped slots. The upper cam slot of each of the cam barsis provided with an upright central part 36, a comparatively long upperreawardly trending outer part 37 connected with the upper end of thecentral part and a comparativelyv short rearwardly trending inner part38 connected with the inner end of said central part. The lower cam slotof each of these cam bars comprises a vertical central part 39, acomparatively long rearwardly trending outer part 40 connected with theouter end of said central part, and a comparatively short rearwardlytrending inner part 41 connected with the inner end of said central part39. The uppermost horizontal bar 24 of the carrier which supports thedownwardly pointing gripping hooks 21 is provided at its opposite endswith laterally projecting shifting pins 34 which engage with the uppercam slots of the cambars and the lowermost horizontal bar 25 of theother carrier which supports the upwardly-pointing hooks 20 is providedat its opposite ends with laterally projecting shifting pins 35 whichengage with the lower cam slots of said cam bars.

Upon turning the lever into the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6the carrier supporting the hooks 20 is moved upwardly and the carriersupporting the hooks 21 is moved downwardly, whereby the upper and lowershifting pins 34, 35 move inwardly' through the long inclined outerparts 37, 40 of the cam slots, thence through the upright parts 36, 39thereof, and thence through the short inner inclined parts 38, 41 of thesame.

By this means the breast plate is shifted from its forward position inwhich its front face is arranged beyond the points of the pins or hooks20, 21, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, to its rearward position in which itsfront face is arranged behind the points of said hooks, as shown inFigs. 4 and 6. When moving the hooks and breast in this manner while apiece of meat or other article to be sliced is held against the frontside of the breast plate, these hooks will embed themselves in the meatas the breast plate recedes by entering the meat obliquely during theinitial part of the vertical movement of the hooks during which time theshifting pins are moving the long outer parts 37, 40, of the cam slots,during the intermediate part of the vertical movement of these hooks thebreast plate remains at rest owing to the shifting pins 34, 35 engagingwith the vertical parts 36, 39 of the cam slots, whereby the hooksproduce a wedge action on the meat which draws the latter against thebreast plate, and during the last part of the movement of the shiftingpins in this direction the same engage the reversely inclined innerparts 38, 41, of the cam slots whereby the breast plate is againadvanced slightly so as to cause the same to press the meat forwardlyagainst the rear sides of the hooks and clamp the samefirmly in place. Amovement of these parts reverse to that just described will release thearticle from the hooks and breast plate.

By this means the article to be sliced can be held securely at its endup to the last slice so that the latter when removed from the hooks andplate is thin enough and unbroken and as salable as the previous slicesout from the article, thereby avoiding waste or reducing the profit on aparticular article which is dispensed in the form of slices.

Whenever it is desired to use the slicing machine for other purposeswhich necessitates removing temporarily the end gripping mechanism, thiscan be done while the article which is being sliced is still attached tothe gripping device, and it also permits this gripping device to beagain mounted in the slicing machine and the article to be returned toits normal position, so that the slicing of the same can be resumedwithout any variation in the thickness of the slices.

Owing to the angular position of the gripping hooks relatively to theface of the breast plate, a wedge-like action of these hooks is producedon the article whereby the same is firmly pressed against the breastplate and held in reliable engagement therewith so that the slices maybe cut uniformly and properly therefrom.

We claim as our invention:

1. An article holder for slicing machines comprising a breast plateprovided with afront bearing face with which the article to be sliced isadapted to engage, and having a movement perpendicular to said face butheld against movement ina direction parallel with said face, and agripping hook co-operating with said face and having a movement parallelthereto but held against movement in a direction perpendicular to saidface, and thefront end of said hookbeing arranged in rear of the face ofsaid breast plate when the latter is in its pro jected position,

2. An article holder for slicing machines comprising a breast plateprovided with a front bearing face with which the article to be slicedis adapted to engage, and having a movement perpendicular tosaid facebut held. against movement in a direction parallel with said face, andan inclined grip ping hook co-operating with said face and movableparallel relatively thereto, but held against movement in a directionperpendicular to said face, and the front end of said hook beingarranged in rear of the face of said breast plate when the latter is inits projected position.

3. An article holder for slicing machines comprising a breast plateprovided. with a front bearing face with which the article to besliced'is adapted to engage and having a movement perpendicular to saidface, a support arranged in rear of said plate and having a movementparallel with said face, I but held against movement in a d1rectionperpendicular to said face; and an inclined gripping hook mounted onsaid supportand adapted to cooperate with the face of said plate and thefront end of said hook being arranged in rear-of the face of said platein the; projected position of the latter.

4. An article holder for slicing machines comprising a breast plateprovided with a front bearing face with which the article to be slicedis adapted to engage and movable perpendicular to its face but heldagainst movement in a direction parallel with said face, and twogripping hooks which move in opposite directions parallel to said faceand adapted to co-operate therewith for gripping and releasing thearticle to be sliced,

but held against movement in a direction perpendicular to said face, andthe front ends of said hooks being arranged in rear of the face of saidplate in the projected position of the latter.

5. An article holder for slicing machines comprising a breast platehaving a front bearing face which is adapted to .beengaged by thearticle to be sliced and movable per pendicular to said face, a camarrangedion said plate, a carrier movable parallel with said face andhaving a pin engaging with said cam, and a plurality of gripping hooksmounted on said carrier and adapted to cooperate with said bearing face.

ing cams, and hooks arranged on said carriers and coeoperating with saidbearing face for clamping the article to be sliced.

7. An article holder for slicing machines comprising a breast platehaving a front bearing face which is adapted to be engaged by thearticle to be sliced and movable perpendicular to said face, camsarranged on said plate, some of said cams'trending in one direction andothers in the opposite'fldi rection, two carriers movable parallel tosaid r face and havingpins engaging :said cams, hooks mounted on saidcarriers and co-operating with the face of said plate, andmeans foractuating said carriers comprising a rock lever connected on oppositesides of its axis with said carriers.

8. An article holder for slicing machines comprising a frame provided onits rear side with supporting bars, a breast plate mounted in said framein front ofsaid bars and provided with a plurality of slots and a frontface, cams arranged on said plate some of which trend in one direction'and others in the opposite direction, two carriers arranged between saidsupporting bars and breast plate and having pins engaging said cams, andgripping hooks mounted on said carriers and adapted to project throughsaid slots and co-operate with the front face of said breast plate.

9. An .article holder for slicingmachines comprising a frame provided onits rear side with supporting bars, a breast plate mounted in said framein front of said bars and provided with aplurality of slots and a frontface, cams arranged on said plate some of which trend in one directionand others in the opposite direction, two car-riers arranged betweensaid supporting bars and breast plate and having pins engaging saidcams, gripping hooks mounted on said carriers and adapted to projectthrough said slots and cooperate with the frontface of said breastplate, and a rock lever pivoted on one of the supporting bars of saidframe and connected on opposite sides of its fulcrum with said carriers.

10. An article holder for slicing machines comprising a frame providedon its rear side with supporting bars, a breast .plate mounted in saidframe and provided with a plurality of slots, cams arranged on saidplate and trending in opposite directions, two carriers arranged betweensaid supporting "bars and breast plate and comprising a'plurality ofhorizontal supporting bars and a plurality of upright connecting barssecured to the rear side of said supporting bars, the connecting bars ofeach carrier engaging With the rear side of the supporting bars of theother carrier, and a plurality of gripping hooks mounted on thesupporting bars of each carrier and projecting through said slots in thebreast plate, the hooks of one carrier inclining in one direction andthe hooks of the other carrier inclining in the opposite direction a i11. An article holder for slicing machines comprising a breast platehaving a face, hook movable parallel to the face of said plate andadapted to engage and release an article resting against the face ofsaid plate and actuating means for operating said plate constructed toretract the same during the initial part of the advancing stroke of saidhook, then retaining the plate at rest during the middle portion of theadvancing stroke, and then partially projecting said plate during thefinal part of the advancing stroke of said hook.

12. An article holder for slicing machines comprising a breast plateperpendicular to its face, a hook movable parallel to the face of saidplate and adapted to engage and release an article resting against theface of said plate, and actuating means for operating saidnplateconstructed to retract the same during the initial part of the advancingstroke of said hook, then retaining the plate at rest during the middleportion of the advancing stroke, and then partially projecting saidplate during the final part of the advancing stroke of said hook, saidactuating means comprising cam bars arranged on said plate and providedwith cam slots each of which has a vertical central part which isparallel to the face of said breast plate, a comparatively long inclinedouter part connecting withthe outer end of said central part and acomparatively short inclined inner part connecting with the inner end ofsaid central part, and shifting pins moving with said hook and engagingwith said cam slots.

13. An article holder for slicing machines comprising a horizontalsupporting plate provided with two upright posts, a breast plate againstwhich the article to be sliced is clamped, a notched locking lugarranged on one end of said breast plate and engaging its notch with theinner side of one of said posts, a rabbetted locking lug arranged on theopposite end of said breast plate and engaging with one side of theother post and a locking cam pivotally mounted on the rabbetted lug andhaving a flange engaging with the last mentioned post opposite to therabbetted lug and a cam face which engages the inner side of said lastmentioned post. i

14:. In combination, a plate having a plurality of openings therein,prongs arranged to project through said plate at an oblique angle to thesurface thereof, and means for shifting said prongs relative to saidplate in a direction parallel thereto to cause said prongs to engagematerial to be sliced.

15. In combination, a plate having openings therein, prongs projectingthrough said plate and arranged'at an oblique angle to the face thereof,some of said prongs being inclined in one direction and others of saidprongs being inclined in an opposite direction relative to said surface,and means for shifting said prongs in the direction of their inclinationand parallel with said plate to cause said prongs to'enter material tobe sliced and to draw said material against. the surface of said plate.

ERNEST HAND. FREDERICK A. WYGANT'.

